On the Road

The term itself derives from the word boondocks, which means a remote, rural area.  But to an RVer, the word boondocking means to stay overnight without hookups. You might be taking an extended stay at a National Park, stopping at a designated campground overnight, or just trying to catch some shut eye in a Wal-Mart parking lot.  Either way, when it comes to boondocking, there are several important things to remember:  spot; safety & security; and etiquette.  Oh yeah, and lets not forget about dump stations!

Spot: Many resources are available online to help you find just the right spot to dry camp.  Click here for a publicly available database of GPS coordinates for boondocking.  If you’re boondocking in a city or town, remember people don’t want RVs camping where they live, so it’s important to find a safe spot away from residential areas.  Look for an industrial part of town, or park your rig in the outlying parking lot of a Wal-Mart.  It really doesn’t matter what it looks like outside during the night does it?  If staying in a parking lot, it’s always a good idea to ask permission of the store manager.  You’ll find that some store managers will even alert their security staff about your presence.

For those who like boondocking in the wilderness, National Forests with “Dispersed Camping” (outside a designated camp spot) are some of the best spots.  Click here for the federal government’s National Forest web site, find for the forest you’d like to stay in, then search on that page for “dispersed camping”. Some National Forests have tons of Dispersed Camping areas and others have none. When a National Forest provides Dispersed Camping, access roads are also provided. Logging roads are everywhere. Often they are gated but sometimes they’re open!  Logging roads sometimes lead to fantastic camp sites.

Safety & Security: These terms mean different things depending if you’re in the city or the wilderness.  In the wilderness, get in the habit of cleaning up immediately after a meal.  Clean and put away all cooking utensils and place all trash in a critter proof trash can.  It’s great fun to see wild animals in their natural habitat but if you need to get closer, use binoculars!  And another thing, don’t leave your dog tied up outside.  This puts your pet at a distinct disadvantage if a wild animal approaches.

In the city, safety & security means something altogether different.  If a place doesn’t “feel” right, it’s probably not.  Trust your instincts.  In parking lots, rest areas or truck stops don’t look for the most out of the way dark corner.  Instead, park in the light, and pull those blackout curtains while you’re sleeping. 

RVers are friendly people and it’s nice to strike up conversation with others but exercise caution and trust your instincts.  It is never a good idea to invite strangers into your RV.

Etiquette: One of the biggest complaints we hear about camping is the lack of etiquette on the part of other campers.  If you’re camping in a public place such as a parking lot, it’s best not to do anything to draw attention to yourself.  This means, no lawn chairs, awnings or BBQ grills! 

At populated camp sites, it’s not a good idea to run your generator past 10:00pm or before 7:00am.  The constant sound of a generator running ruins the great outdoor experience for many.

And remember, no matter how or where you camp, please don’t litter.